Bed Bugs

Bed Bug Extermination in Northeast Ohio

Lifestyle changes in our world today, such as frequent travel, have made it easier for bed bugs to find their way into your home. You may think it’s connected to bad housekeeping, but bed bugs do not discriminate. An infestation can start as simply as picking one up in your clothing at a five-star hotel or through baggage on a plane. Travelers caught unaware bring them into their homes and they quickly reproduce.

Bed bugs thrive in virtually any climate. They feed only on blood and primarily at night, so unless you are looking for them, you won’t see them. They will seek out humans and warm-blooded animals for a meal, but if conditions are poor, they can survive up to a year without a meal. They hide under mattresses, in seams of cushions, even under baseboards and inside electrical outlet plates, waiting for a host to feed on. You won’t feel them bite, but about half of people will have a reaction to the bite that presents as itchy, red bumaps.

Signs of bed bug infestation

Since only about 50 percent of people have a reaction to a bite from a bed bug, it is not uncommon for an infestation to be serious by the time a homeowner notices this pest. If you suspect you may have bed bugs, look for:

Live and dead bugs in the seams of mattresses or couch cushions,

Cast off skins from the molting process, which may be scattered on a mattress, cushion or carpet,

Tiny black stains from fecal material,

Cream-colored eggs, visible on dark material or in crevices.

Unfortunately, bed bugs also hide and lay eggs deep in cracks and crevices that are extremely difficult to get to. Homeowners who attempt to spray for the pest themselves often find that the residual doesn’t last long enough to destroy the eggs and a problem thought to be eradicated is back three months later.

How do I get rid of bed bugs?

The best way to deal with a bed bug infestation is a thorough, professional treatment by a certified exterminator. TNT Exterminators use advanced technology that includes a combination of chemical and thermal treatments to be sure your home is not only bug free, but egg free.

Our technicians will inspect your home from top to bottom to determine where your infestation is. We will then choose a treatment plan that targets the problem area and reaches those challenging hiding places that bed bugs favor.

Our chemical treatments include fast-acting and residual products that quickly kill bed bugs, then continue to do the job in the coming days and weeks. We also dust those hard-to-reach cracks and crevices, with special attention to electrical outlets and baseboards in bedrooms.

Bed Bug Thermal Heat Treatments

At TNT Exterminating, we use thermal heat treatments in conjunction with chemical treatments to be sure your bed bugs are gone. Heat treatments can target specific items in your home, or whole room treatments may be advisable depending on how extensive your problem is. A whole room heat treatment will bring the temperature of the room to above 120 degrees, killing all bed bugs and their eggs.

By customizing a combined treatment for your home, you can rest assured that our technicians have thoroughly cleared your home of bed bugs.

Understand that our treatments are most effective when you, the homeowner, are prepared for our technicians. The following are important steps you should take before our technicians arrive.

Remove all bedding from mattresses and sleeping areas.

Wash bedding, affected clothes, etc., in 120- to 140-degree water.

Empty all drawers in night stands and dressers, as well as any other furniture in affected rooms.

Take down all wall hangings or lamp shades in infested area.

Move all items in home away from baseboards at least 2-3 feet.

Vacuum all floors.

Pick up all loose items (shoes, clothes, toys, etc.) and remove from area.

Plan to be out of the home for 4 hours after treatment.

What can I do right now?

Even the most attentive homeowner can become a victim of a bed bug infestation, but there are some things you can do to prevent them.

De-clutter your home so bed bugs can’t hide so easily.

Wash and dry sheets and blankets on the hottest temperature possible.

Inspect furniture before you bring it into your home. Even new items have been known to harbor a bed bug from a warehouse.

Always check suitcases and clothing after travel.

Be alert when picking up and cleaning your home, and if you suspect you may have bed bugs, contact TNT Exterminating. We are happy to provide a complete inspection of your home anywhere in the Akron, Canton or Cleveland area.

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